We have now seen the end of 2002, a year we are glad is over according to most people I've been talking to. From a gaming point of view, however, 2002 was quite an exciting year. A year like 2002 is basically my favorite type of year when it comes to gaming. We got to see the upstart consoles in their 2nd generation as well as the dominant PS2 with it's 3rd gen software. It is really apparent that coders have figured out the PS2's complicated architecture while the ease of coding for the Gamecube and Xbox are readily apparent. Bottom line, more than ever, it is a great time to be a gamer. We pretty much gaming addicts here and have no problems going multi console, but I can't imagine that most gamers would be severely disappointed with any one of the current consoles.

The portable scene of gaming is even better than ever. Generally, portable systems have been regarded as the neglected offspring of primary consoles with their landscape littered with failed attempts at ports or horrible kid focused licensed bland titles. Sure... the Game Boy Advance has it's fair share of Mary Kate and Ashley games, but in the mix as well are games like Castlevania, Metroid Fusion, as well as ports of classics like Zelda: LttP, and Yoshi's Island. Whereas most people complain about the ports, I really can't. I couldn't afford to have two systems during the 16-bit days, so the GBA is my easy way to make up for the lost time. Overall, there are plenty of high quality and original games on the diminutive Nintendo system for all to be happy.

Keep in mind that we're discussing the best games we played in 2002, not just the games that were released that year. You may see some holdovers from 2001 here and there, so keep your pants on. Also note that Michael and I don't own PCs, and even if we did we wouldn't be gaming on them. This list is strictly console, folks. Now, how about we talk about some categories? Great. Here we go!

Best Action Game:
I just have to give the nod in this category to Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. It was the main reason I even wanted a PS2 in the first place. Rockstar North included more of everything that made GTA3 a runaway hit and then some. The voice work was great, the humor was all over the place and setting the game in the 80's is really going to be hard to top in my book. There is just so much to do in the game and tons of fun to have. It truly deserves the sales it gets.

No game packs more action than Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, so it wins this category by default. From dismembering hookers with a rusty chainsaw to ghost-riding a motorcycle into a crowded intersection to selling narcotic-laced treats from an ice cream truck, Vice City makes being bad so very, very good. Toss in the largest licensed soundtrack ever and some fabulous voice acting on top of that, as well as improved graphics and more engaging mission objectives, and you've got a recipe for hundreds of hours of crime-related fun.

Best 3D Platformer Game:
Here is a category that should have easily went to another game this year but didn't. My choice? Insomniac's Ratchet and Clank for the PS2. If any game this year made me feel like a developer snuck into my brain and made a game just for me it would be Ratchet and Clank. Aside from the lousy instruction poster (and that is really only a personal pet peeve of mine,) I just couldn't find anything to be upset about with this game. Insomniac showed how to make a great platformer with tons of gameplay, great controls, a camera system that doesn't fight against you as well as including a good script and voice work. Now I know Mario has tons of rabid fans out there, but, in my personal opinion, Super Mario Sunshine just didn't live up to the pre-release and post-release fanboy hype. I enjoyed the game, don't get me wrong, but in the face of a complete package like Ratchet and Clank, which didn't skimp on any area, I just wouldn't feel right. Ratchet and Clank is a must for any 3D platformer fan. It's loaded with fun, laughs, and high quality gameplay. Most likely, Ratchet and Clank will be the most overlooked title this year, and that is just a travesty.

Best Horror Game:
Alright, it's no secret, I suck at Resident Evil. Even though it looked great and fans of the series loved it, it doesn't get the award from me this year. However, the much improved from the lame ass Cube Club demo, Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem is incredible. I love this game. It freaked me out in parts and just wowed me in others with it's unique style and insanity meter. I loved how it played and it kept me coming back for more and it's calling me right now. Superb story and voice work rounded out a nice solid gameplay base. This game kept me going through the early drought this year. Excellent stuff from Silicon Knights and I can't wait to see more from them.

If Silent Hill 3 had been released in 2002, then I'd probably be extolling its horrific virtues in this space right now. It turns out I won't get to do that until next year, so for now I'll talk about the fantastic Resident Evil remake that Capcom released on the GameCube. The graphics are slick, the acting is much improved and the game is much more compelling than it has ever been before. The control still sucks (especially with the lame-ass GameCube pad) and the game is harder than ever, but it's still a monstrously good time for fans of the genre. The only real down side is that it isn't scary in the least, but maybe I've played one too many of these games as it is. Anyway, don't let Dave's unmanliness scare you away, this really is one of the top games for the GameCube.

Best Shooter, First-Person or Otherwise:
Even though it came out in late 2001, Halo is still light-years better than any other shooter that came out this year. (And I didn't get an Xbox until May, so I had a lot of catching up to do.) "Combat Evolved" is an appropriate subtitle for Halo, as Bungie has stripped away lame puzzle-solving elements and fetch quests in favor of extremely thoughtful battle design and cascading AI routines. As a result the game feels very fresh and engaging, despite sharing many elements with other shooters. And oh by the way, no other game of this type has come close to Halo when it comes to the vehicle thing. This is still the best-looking console game to date as well as the best-sounding; no other developer has exploited the built-in Dolby Digital support better than Bungie. The game is also extremely addicting, and I find myself playing through the entire game at least once a month. I'll be happily playing this game until the end of 2003, when Halo 2 arrives to eclipse it.

Best Sports Game:
Hands down, Sega's NHL 2K3 is the best sports game available on the current consoles. The reason I chose this title is because it clearly is the leader in it's genre. Unlike the race in the other sports where the quality gap is either close or equal, hockey belongs to Sega this year. The realism depicted in this game is incredible. I am a huge fan of the series and have enjoyed the steady improvement with each game. No other hockey game can re-create the sport better than NHL 2K3 this year. If you are a hockey fan, look no further.

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